The Long Āgama Sūtra 23.35

23.35

「云何大臣成就四法？彼婆羅門大臣七世以來父母真正，不為他人所見輕毀，是為初法。復次，彼大臣異學三部諷誦通利，種種經書皆能分別，世典幽微靡不綜練，又能善於大人相法、瞻察吉凶、祭祀儀禮，是為二法。復次，大臣善於言語，所說柔和，義味具足，是為三法。復次，大臣智謀勇果，無有怯弱，凡祭祀法無不解知，是為四法。時，彼王成就八法，婆羅門大臣成就四法，彼王有四援助、三祭祀法、十六祀具。」

“Furthermore, that great minister had mastered the three Vedas, could discern all the various kinds of scriptures, and was learned about all the subtleties of worldly literature. He was also skilled in the way of the great man’s signs, divining fortune and misfortune, and ritual sacrifices and etiquette. This was the second thing.

“Furthermore, that great minister was well-spoken. What he said was gentle, and his meaning and content were complete. This was the third thing.

“Furthermore, that prime minister was shrewd, bold, and had no weaknesses. There were no matters of ritual sacrifice he didn’t understand. This was the fourth thing.

“That king had accomplished these eight things, and his priestly great minister had accomplished these four things. That king then had four aids, three ways of ritual sacrifice, and sixteen ritual requisites.

“What were the four things accomplished by that great minister? That priestly great minister was descended from seven generations of fathers and mothers who were genuine, so he wasn’t slighted by other people. This was the first thing.